Lakers edge Warriors in overtime thriller

OAKLAND -- The Warriors didn't close the door when they had the chance. And this time, the first time all season, it came back to bite them. Specifically, the Black Mamba did.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant scored six of his game-high 34 points in overtime to help the Lakers steal a 118-115 win at Oracle Arena. The Warriors had won 15 straight when entering the fourth quarter with a lead. But Saturday they blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.

"They started making shots and we didn't take care of the basketball," said head coach Mark Jackson, whose team had five of its 19 turnovers in the fourth quarter. "You look back and realize that one defensive rebound, one well-executed defensive trip, one less turnover, and we are out of here before overtime.

"It's disappointing the way the fourth quarter went. But Kobe Bryant has a history of making good shots. He did that tonight."

The game was as frustrating as it was encouraging. The Lakers (13-14) at full strength -- which they are after Steve Nash returned to the lineup Saturday -- are expected to be a title contender. Yet, Saturday, Golden State looked like the better team.

The nail-biting loss to their Pacific Division bullies stings. But in many ways, it lends credence to the Warriors' contention that they are a legit playoff contender.

They will get the chance to prove it as eight of their next 11 games are against playoff-caliber teams.

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"We're ready," point guard Stephen Curry said after totaling 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals and four turnovers. "These kind of experiences are tough to deal with but they do make you better if you're paying attention to what we wrong.

"I think we understand what went wrong in the fourth quarter. We could have games like these every single night, on the road or at home, and we'll be able to battle."

The somber postgame locker room was a product of the Warriors believing they gave one away. Again.

Golden State (18-10) played with the tempo, energy and resilience that have defined their season. But they also went dark long enough to fuel their opponents' comeback.

If it wasn't turnovers, it was settling for quick jumpers. If it wasn't blown defensive assignments, it was Jackson opting not to call a momentum-killing timeout.

When they had the Lakers on the ropes, the Warriors didn't put them away. That's been a problem all season. But unlike against the teams, the Lakers had too many weapons.

"We just learned that if you mess around and allow a team like that -- which has tremendous firepower -- hang around, these are the type of results that can happen," said guard Jarrett Jack, who exploded for 29 points and 11 assists.

Golden State's 88-74 lead early in the fourth quarter was erased when Bryant hit a 3-pointer over Warriors rookie Harrison Barnes with 4:28 left. On the ensuing possession, Barnes answered with a turnaround jumper over Bryant.

Lakers guard Jodie Meeks then gave the Lakers a 98-97 lead with a 3-pointer. But Jack answered right back with a 3-pointer of his own. Then, after a Warriors stop, Barnes put the Warriors ahead 102-98 with a left-handed follow dunk that seemed to shake Oracle Arena.

Another Warriors stop nearly led to the Warriors taking total control, but Jack's dagger 3-pointer rimmed out. The Lakers retook the lead on a pair of Dwight Howard free throws, followed by 3-pointer from Steve Nash at the 1:46 mark.

Golden State wasn't down for long, though. Jack let Festus Ezeli, whose turnover led to the Nash 3-pointer, redeem himself with a lob pass. Ezeli dunked it home to put Golden State back ahead by one.

Barnes got a steal, but missed the layup. Bryant then put the Lakers up 105-104 with a jumper from the wing.

Lee answered with a jumper from 17 feet, putting Golden State up 106-105. But the Lakers scored again. Golden State somehow left Metta World Peace open for a corner 3-pointer. He nailed it, putting the Warriors down 108-106 with 24.1 seconds left.

Jack, however, knocked down a 20-footer to tie the game at 108 with 14.9 seconds left.

Golden State got the stop it needed to force overtime.

Howard opened the overtime with a follow-dunk. After a missed 3-pointer by Curry, Bryant connected on a turnaround jumper to put the Warriors down 112-108.

Jack answered with a jumper. But Bryant responded immediately with a pull-up at the 2:22 mark, putting Golden State down four.

Klay Thompson cut it to two again, but Bryant came right back with a fadeaway.

A 3-pointer by Curry with 33 seconds left cut the Lakers lead to a point. But Lakers point guard Nash drilled a step-back jumper to put the Warriors down by a 3-pointer with 8.8 seconds left.